The teams will be aided by rowing greats for the challenge on the high seas of Salford Quays, with double Olympic gold-medallist James Cracknell captaining the BBC side and two-time Olympic champion Helen Glover taking the helm for ITV.

He said: “Training for such a synchronised team sport like rowing is going to be a huge challenge for all of them. They’ll need explosive energy, stamina and a great sense of timing, so anything could happen!

“Both teams have got world-class captains to lead them to the finish line. It’s going to be a fantastic effort with some good old-fashioned rivalry thrown in. I can’t wait to see who wins.”

Viewers will see which team is crowned champion when the race airs on BBC One on March 23 as part of Sport Relief, which this year is preceded by a week of activity from March 17.